plural cryptos
1
: cryptocurrency
A specialty finance firm … is the first to offer brokers the option to get their commissions paid up front, in crypto, underscoring how digital coins are becoming a more mainstream part of financial transactions.Jennifer Schonberger
often used before another noun
crypto assets
the crypto market
2
3
: a person who adheres or belongs secretly to a party, sect, or other group
And jaws dropped, he said, when he explained the theory that Christopher Columbus was a "crypto" or hidden Jew.Kim Vo

crypto-

2 of 2

combining form

variants or before a vowel crypt-
1
: hidden : covered
cryptogenic
2
: hidden by dissembling : unavowed
crypto-fascist
3
: cryptographic
cryptanalysis

Examples of crypto in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
Emma Roth is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Emma Roth, The Verge, 1 July 2026 Ferdon detailed how the crypto currency exchange became one of the biggest brands in the emerging world of nontraditional finance and banking options. Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 3 July 2026 That is likely the biggest increase in wealth for any sitting president while in office, and that staggering figure comes from the president’s multiple crypto ventures. Riley Beggin, Washington Post, 2 July 2026 The disclosure underscores that simple holding, not complex schemes, is the primary reason for deferred taxes on large crypto portfolios. Shehan Chandrasekera, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for crypto

Word History

Etymology

Noun

(senses 1 & 2) by shortening; (sense 3) independent use of crypto-

Combining form

combining form from Greek kryptós "hidden, secret" — more at crypt

First Known Use

Noun

1946, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of crypto was in 1946

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Crypto.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crypto. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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